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Letters Patent No. 63,305, dated Zlaret 26, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAFE-LOCKS.

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-To ALL wHoM 1T MAY ooNoERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. RICHARDS, of Mount Joy, in the county of Lancaster, and State of Penusvlvania, have invented a new and usefulBurglar-Proof Lock, timed by a gravitating force, to operate the same, adapted'for safes andbank vaults or the like; and-I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification', in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the duplicated sand-box A A, poised on its cylindrical axis Gr, and its several parts in place. A

Figure 2 shows the loeloplate B removed, with its sand-boxes, Sie., in order to show the combined gearing that operates the shafts to the several bolts D W.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lock-plate B, with the sand-boxes in place, poisedupon .a scale-point,iL, shown on the lock-plate.

Figure 4, with the pipe or hole 1* for the pendulum-'shaft Q, opening for the socket-bolt D, and lugs m, holes n, for the feet on the rod s. l

Figure 5 shows the cylindrical axis Gr, into which the sand-boxes open to admit the sand to pass from the upper to the lower box. H shows the headed key, with a slot, I, within the cylinder, in which it turns, and is held by a screw through the outside to rest in the collar groove on the key.

Figure 6 shows one of the bevel pinions, witlrits square shaft entering the square socket of a screw-bolt, W.

Figure 7 shows the head of the screw-socket square bolt D, with a box-opening, U, for the reception of the catch O, on each sand-box, as they are alternately brought in position, by turning, for refastening thesocket-bolt D. F the screw, entering the socket-head D, on the shaft E ofthe turning-knob F.

Figure 8'is a vertical section, showing the knob-shaft, bevel-gearing, and bolt-shafts, in combination with the sand-boxes within the safe x x, and outer plate c.

The nature of this invention is to secure the door of a safe or vault permanently 4for a set time, in such a manner as to defyevery means employed to open the same until the expiration of the allotted time, when only the knob on the outside can be turned in order to withdraw the socket and screw-bolts.V i

To enable others skilled in the nrt to makeand use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction andpoperation.

On a cylindrical axis, G, opposite each other, are two sand-boxes, or their equivalent, forming two sectors of a circle, say of seventy-three degrees each, marked A A. Each may be divided, as indicated by the dotted lines on iig. 1; one opening in the slot I on the key, the other through a perforation inthe same. But one Chamber is deemed suiicient. On each of said boxes A there is an arm, N, at right angle to the vertical side of cachbox. On the end of each arm-there is a cup, M, with a central opening in the bottom, The key H, enteringI theaxis G, has a milled header flange, J, with a mark; behind it, on the cylinder, there is a dial R, graduated, so thatby turning the key more or less sand, or its equivalent, will he permitted to escape in a given time from the upper into the lower box. The rear of said central cylinder G is open, and rests upon a scale-point, L, on the plate D. 'lhe upper boxbeing charged with its nely-sit'ted and lively and dry sand, or its equivalent, is drawn over and rests upon a shaft, Q, to which is suspended a freely vibrating rod or pendulum, P, and consequentlythe lower box is thrown upwards, so that its catch O enters the open box or slot U in the square socket-bolt D, and holds it so as to prevent it from being withdrawn by the screw on the shaft E, connected with the turning-knob F, which is operated from the outside of the door. Thus the sand continues to run, until the lower box becomes counterpoised, when, like the beam of a scale, it gravitates to a central plumb line, and the catch O is with drawn from the lsquare bolt-head D, and in swinging down the arm N'rises upwards, and the plummet-rod or pendulum Peuters the perforated bottom in the cup M, so as to allow the box to gravitate. vHence it is neces. sary that the safe or fixings be perfectly plumb, othferwise the plumb-rod or pendulum P will `strike the bottom of the cup M and prevent the disengagement of the catch 0. It therefore follows that inclining the safe in any manner or degree will not aid in dislodging the catch; even when turned upside down the sand could but run back and not help to the opening. ShouldA the safe have been tampered with, so as to get it out of its plumb position, it needs-but to be restored, when, by turning the knob in the proper direction, not only will the square bolt D'be drawn in by the screw arrangement on the' turning-shaft E, but the bolts W will be unserewed atfall pointsat the Sametime, when the door readily ope'ns; during business hours it may remain open, or the bolts screwed in or out without setting the7 sand-boxes. When it is desirable 'to close the safe, say from four oclook p. m. to nine a. in. of next day, say for seventeen hours, the dial will indicate how far the key is to be turned; so for any amount of hours fromthree to'tliirtysix, or more.

The manner of' operating .the screw-bolts W, at two, four, or more points, is simply to form them with a. deep square socket, into which a square rod or shaft, V, enters, and turns it in or out,yaccordingly as the bevel gearing 7c b l, b 2, 3, iig. 8, is turned by the knob F, andthe larger bevel-wheel k on its shaft E, as shown in the drawings, tig. 2 and tig. 8 A single screw-head, shaft, and bevel pinion is shown by Eg. G, and will be readily understoodthat by turning the screw-bolt W, by the turning of the square rod, vthe bolt is readily screwed into the iron' casing, however thick and solid, with va thread to lit it; thus no wedge that could be introduced between the door-plate and external casing could force such a screw-bolt, made with a strong and sharp thread, and of any degree of thickness or strength. ",lhe gearing itself needs no further description, beingl Awell understood; but its application to withdrawing er inserting the screw-bolts is deemed a new feature, and in` combination with the screw-socket bolt D,v drawn in or pushed out by the same shaft that screws out and screws in the bolt W, makes it as novelas it is useful in application. This shaft E can neither be pushed in or drawn out itself, being prevented by a nut, z, within thev door-plate c, and binding plate e, strongly secured by shoulders or otherwise, so es only to allow a rotary' motion to said shaft E. lAnd, as no key is used enterd nally, there is nothing but the knob F and. plates e visible on the'outsideof the door; no place for introducing POwder; irl-short, itnot only prevents burglars from opening the safe, but the owner himself, uut-il the time has arrived, when the gravitatng force, acting freely', releases the catch and allows `the knob to be turned and the bolts to be withdrawn; consequently nothing is gained by the burglars in 'capturing the owner or person in charge, since no compulsion can be` of avail, ahd the only alternative is to' abide the time. I am aware that vmergenciesmight arise when it would be desirable to open the safe;- but fixed rules. established must, in this case, be observed, whichtperhaps is of more importance thanto opena safe at improper times. The arms and cups M, on each boziv A or A', are so placed, as also the-catch O, that when once charged itis only necessary to lreverse the boxes in their position so as to bring the 'full one to the top previous to shutting` the` safealoor,` and by inserting shaft Q of the pendulum-rod P in its pipe or place, w', in theY lockplate B, and the gauge or key set. A casing, Y, iig. 8, is shown, surrounding the ,shaft V and screw-bolt W, and might be employed around each to cover them completely, without preventing their action. The size of theboxes and openings of the key can be readily adapted to the size of the safe, or time for closing, elected in each instance. The operation of the sand 'in thenhour-glass is well known, and the amount discharged in agiven time through a given opening easily ascertained and adjusted to particular cases. n

I am aware that clock-work has been-employed as an alarm on opening of-locks, but I am not aware that a poised gravitating forcef like that of sand, mercury,0r its equivalent, has ever been employed heretofore. I am also aware that racksA and pnions have been used for sliding boltsin and out; but I am not aware that bolts have actually beenpscrewed in and out, connecting the door and-casingy by means of a strong screw at two, four, or more "points, by simply turning a knob, which at the same time draws out or pushes in a square bolt by means of a screw on its shaft, and thread in said socket.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

l. The twin sand-boxes A A', or their equivalent 'gravit-ating force, and regulating key H, for timing the period that shall intervene before the bolt D and bolts W can be operated, soas to unlock .the door by withdrawing or unscrewing them, by simply turning the knob F, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified. y

2. I also claim the socket, screw-bolts W D, operated substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified. l

JOHN R. RICHARDS.

Witnesses nt signing:

WM. '13. WILEY, JACOB Stuurman. 

